The future of Marvel’s Disney Plus shows takes a jaw-dropping turn

The future of Marvel's Disney Plus shows takes a jaw-dropping turn

As a die-hard Marvel fan who has been following the MCU since its inception, I can confidently say that the latest news about new shows in development is nothing short of exhilarating! After what seemed like a questionable year for the franchise, it’s refreshing to see that Marvel Studios is not backing down from their innovative and risk-taking approach towards storytelling.

Marvel Studios revolutionized its own franchise in the year 2021 by debuting its initial Disney Plus series, marking a new chapter for a universe that had already produced 23 films. The groundbreaking series, titled WandaVision, represented the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first foray into streaming television. This innovative step brought accolades, such as Emmy awards, to the franchise and opened doors for additional shows to emerge, with titles like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, and Hawkeye scheduled to premiere in the same year.

Currently, it’s challenging to recall a period when there wasn’t at least one Marvel Cinematic Universe series or several on Disney Plus scheduled for release each year. Each show primarily focuses on characters who were previously underused or absent from the films, and they significantly expand the universe in terms of detail beyond what the movies could achieve.

Despite some doubts about the past year, it seems the studio is adopting a minimalist strategy, leading to speculation about potential cancellations that have Marvel enthusiasts pondering if this shift might mean they’re stepping back from their more daring, experimental storytelling methods like the Disney Plus series and Special Presentations.

Thankfully, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Marvel has “at least” five new live-action shows in development

Based on reports from experienced Marvel source Daniel Richtman, it appears that Marvel Studios currently has at least five active live-action series in the pipeline. This certainly adds to the excitement since it suggests that the upcoming Disney Plus shows are moving forward at this time.

Initially, Marvel Studios’ Disney Plus MCU shows garnered tremendous success. However, during the second year, some doubts arose concerning the format’s longevivity, as shows like Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and Secret Invasion (2023) didn’t quite match up to the original series in terms of viewership. Although Secret Invasion was met with criticism by fans, being a miniseries made it easier for the studio to move on. However, rumors suggested that She-Hulk might not be getting a second season due to its high production costs. On the other hand, there are whispers of a possible renewal for Ms. Marvel.

The future of Marvel's Disney Plus shows takes a jaw-dropping turn

As a dedicated Marvel enthusiast, I can’t help but be intrigued by the whispers of five live-action series that Marvel might be brewing. The tricky part is, these rumors don’t specify whether these projects are fresh ideas, shows already in production (or recently wrapped up), or potential second seasons of returning favorites (which have been generating a lot of buzz lately). It’s an exciting mystery, and I can hardly wait for more details to surface!

Among the upcoming shows, it seems very plausible that one might be “Vision Quest,” the newly confirmed spinoff of “WandaVision” featuring Paul Bettany’s character, White Vision. Production for this series is slated to start in 2025, with a release expected in 2026. Another possible contender is the long-anticipated Nova project, tentatively scheduled for a 2027 (or possibly 2028) debut. It’s also speculated that “Wonder Man” could be one of them, given that production on this show has recently wrapped up. However, remember that being “in development” and being “in post-production” are two distinct stages, so it’s equally possible that it isn’t one of those five shows in the pipeline.

The future of Marvel's Disney Plus shows takes a jaw-dropping turn

It’s anticipated that the Marvel series “Hawkeye” and “Moon Knight” will receive second seasons, as reports suggest that Marvel has approved them following changes to their streaming show strategy. Instead of producing a list of standalone miniseries, they’re focusing on long-lasting multi-season TV shows. Additionally, “Ms. Marvel” is rumored to be in line for a second season as well, with the studio eager to bring back Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan.

Considering this, if the speculated returning TV series are part of the picture, those five projects might be in view. If we’re discussing five fresh shows instead, it definitely spices things up, implying that Marvel continues to back the creation of original streaming shows based on the MCU. If this is true, another rumored project is a Strange Academy series, where Wong could guide a new crop of sorcerers.

Regardless of whether the shows are completely new projects or returning series, it’s an incredibly exciting report for a Marvel fan to hear. It confirms that the studio is still sold on the prospect of producing shows for the MCU in spite of all these recent reports of cancellations and pulling back. The success of the likes of WandaVision and Loki shows there is value in that medium, and if Marvel continues to get it right, perhaps it could reach even greater heights going forward. And that is also extremely exciting.

2024-09-10 06:01